The White Ape Martial Hall

After Han Yanshi left, Deputy Master Long circled around Luo Yi, inspecting him as he muttered:

"Your skin is crystal clear, and a faint jade-like glow radiates from its surface. This is a clear sign of perfected Body Refining Realm, with Treasure Light naturally contained within!"

"How many years has it been? How many years since anyone in Yunlu County achieved perfected Body Refining Realm?"

Looking at Deputy Master Long, who seemed almost delirious, Luo Yi decided to find another Martial Arts Hall for his sister. Just as he was about to lead Luo Xi out the door—

"Young man, you can't be more than seventeen or eighteen, yet you've already reached this realm. Would you be interested in joining the White Ape Martial Hall? I'll take you as my personal Disciple and pass on everything I've learned in my life." Deputy Master Long's voice rang out.

He would need a great many Energy Points to continue practicing martial arts. Fighting demons and monsters was the path he ought to take. With that in mind, Luo Yi cupped his hands toward Deputy Master Long. "Thank you for your kind offer, Deputy Master Long, but I already have a master."

"I came here this time because I wanted my younger sister to join the White Ape Martial Hall and learn martial arts. I hope you'll understand."

Luo Yi's refusal did not surprise Deputy Master Long.

"So be it. A little pond like Yunlu County could never hold a genius like you. Since your parents were able to give birth to a genius like you, your sister's aptitude should be pretty good too."

With that, Deputy Master Long flashed over to Luo Xi and began pressing at her joints with both hands.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Luo Xi cried out as the old man's hands pressed against her.

"Little girl, bear with it for a moment. It'll be over soon."

"An upper-grade Bone Frame. Not bad." As Deputy Master Long finished speaking, his hands came to a stop.

"Little girl, would you be interested in joining our White Ape Martial Hall and becoming my named Disciple?"

Luo Xi was a little stunned by the middle-aged man's question. She glanced at her brother, silently asking what she should do.

Seeing his sister's look, Luo Yi nodded.

"Greetings, Master." With her brother's approval, Luo Xi bowed to Deputy Master Long.

"Good disciple." After helping Luo Xi to her feet, Deputy Master Long looked over at Luo Yi.

"Yunlu County has been rather chaotic lately. A great many refugees from Qingzhou have poured into the county town. Your sister has only just begun martial arts training, so I plan to have her stay at the Martial Arts Hall for now. Once she becomes an Entry Realm Martial Artist, she can return home. What do you think?"

Deputy Master Long's arrangement seemed very considerate to Luo Yi, and he nodded.

"Thank you, Deputy Master." Then he took a fifty-tael Silver Note from his robes and handed it over.

Deputy Master Long accepted the Silver Note and explained of his own accord, "Although your sister is my named Disciple, the Martial Arts Hall's rules can't be bent. I'll accept this Silver Note."

"The extra twenty taels of silver can go toward Secret Medicine from the Martial Arts Hall. Taking Secret Medicine will greatly shorten the time the little girl needs to temper her body and help her become an Entry Realm Martial Artist sooner."

"Thank you, Deputy Master Long. I'll be leaving my younger sister in your care for a while." Now that he had taken care of his sister's martial arts training, it was time to turn to his own.

After leaving the White Ape Martial Hall, Luo Yi first went to the busiest market in Yunlu County and bought gifts for Aunt Li and Xiao Yong. At last, he found a liquor shop and bought two jars of baijiu.

He took out the note Wang Meng had left him and followed the address written on it.

Wang Meng lived in an alley in Yunlu County's East District. Compared with the bustle of the South District, the East District was much quieter. Aside from the Inner City, all the county's nobles lived there. The alleys were clean and orderly, and the houses lining them were beautiful and elegant.

No wonder houses in the East District cost at least five hundred taels of silver. Luo Yi couldn't help but remark on it.

Luo Yi arrived at the address written on Wang Meng's note.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" He knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Hearing Wang Meng's voice from inside the courtyard, Luo Yi knew he had come to the right place.

"Uncle Wang, it's me, Xiao Yi."

"Xiao Yi, come in. Open the courtyard gate." Wang Meng took the gifts from Luo Yi and welcomed him inside.

As he entered the courtyard, Luo Yi saw that Wang Meng's home was more than twice as large as the courtyard he lived in now. It seemed Uncle Wang's status was not as simple as it appeared.

After leading Luo Yi to the reception room and handing the gifts to Aunt Song, Wang Meng asked:

"Xiao Yi, what have you been busy with lately? So many days have passed, and you're only just now thinking to come see your uncle?"

"Uncle Wang, you know me. I've been busy practicing martial arts. I had a little free time today, so I came to see you right away."

"You really do work hard! If only Xiao Yong worked half as hard at martial arts as you do."

Wang Yong was just coming in with tea when he heard his father. He looked as if he'd been caught in the crossfire and gave Luo Yi a wry smile.

Luo Yi didn't join in Wang Meng's scolding of his son. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Uncle Wang, I came this time to ask how to join the Demon Suppression Department."

Wang Meng thought for a moment when he heard that Luo Yi wanted to join the Demon Suppression Department.

"A few years ago, you only needed to reach Body Refining Realm and pass a test to join."

"In recent years, riots have broken out frequently across Great Qi's provinces, and reports of demons and Evil Spirits rampaging have come from all over. I don't know whether the Demon Suppression Department has changed its requirements."

"Xiao Yi, leave me the address where you're living now. When my younger brother gets back, I'll ask him about the exact requirements. Then I'll come find you and let you know what you need to do to join the Demon Suppression Department."

"Thank you, Uncle Wang. Besides that, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you about."

"What is it?"

"Uncle Wang, do you know which shops in Yunlu County sell Body Refining Realm Cultivation Techniques?"

"The Black Market and the shops run by the Four Great Clans both sell Body Refining Cultivation Techniques."

"Cultivation Techniques are cheaper at the Black Market, but there are plenty of people there with wicked intentions who secretly alter parts of the techniques. Buyers who practice the flawed versions can easily burst apart and die. Besides, the Black Market isn't in the county town. It's at a mass grave ten li outside Yunlu County. It's an extremely chaotic place, where martial artists often fight over treasures and slaughter one another."

"The Four Great Clans' shop that sells manuals isn't far from the Qipi Collection Shop where we sold the Wolf Hide last time. The manuals there cost much more than at the Black Market, but you can be sure their contents are sound."

After listening to Wang Meng, Luo Yi thought, With my current strength, going to the Black Market to buy a manual would be too dangerous. I should check the shop run by the Four Great Clans first.

Having made up his mind, Luo Yi rose and cupped his hands toward Wang Meng. "Thank you, Uncle Wang."

Seeing Luo Yi about to leave, Aunt Song hurried after him.

"Xiao Yi, it's already noon. There's no need to leave before lunch. Besides, Auntie has some good news to tell you." Looking at Aunt Song's beaming face, Luo Yi's mouth twitched. Don't tell me she's trying to set me up again?